LPGA coming to South Bend?

Blackthorn plans to use fancy hotel to attract big events.

Blackthorn plans to use fancy hotel to attract big events.

June 24, 2006|CHRISTINA HILDRETH Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- If Rick Reid's dreams come true, golf fanatics could be driving to South Bend to catch a glimpse of pro-putters like Michelle Wie or Annika Sorenstam. Reid, general manager of the Blackthorn Golf Club, is brainstorming ways to help the five-star golf course -- and the rest of Michiana -- capitalize on the addition of the County Mayo Irish Inn & Pub, an $18 million luxury hotel set to break ground on the edge of the course later this summer. One of his ideas is to snag a contract to host a national golf event, bringing big-name players to swing their clubs on the city-owned course. "We can go after some big events like a U.S. Amateur or maybe a nationwide tour event like an LPGA," he said. To do that, the course would need to have not only a luxurious hotel but ample surrounding infrastructure -- enough to support anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 people, said Mike Nichols, vice president of tournament business for the Ladies Professional Golf Association. Spectators, tournament operators, athletes and television crews would need a place to stay and set up their equipment. Most importantly, a local corporation would have to agree to foot the bill for the purse -- which could be anywhere from $1 million to $3 million. But if Blackthorn could attract this type of event, it would have up to a $15 million impact on the local economy, in addition to showcasing the course on national television and giving area tourism a boost, Nichols said. Regardless of whether the plush hotel is enough to draw a national event, Reid said he plans to launch a massive advertising campaign to attract well-to-do golfers from up to 250 miles away. "It's going to bring a higher demographic golfer out for us," he said. "We'll have a creme-de-la-creme facility to offer 'stay and play' packages." He plans to grow the course's golf school too, hiring nationally known instructors to teach visitors how to putt and drive. Off-the-green business might benefit as well, as the new hotel will have seven conference rooms to host snazzy business meetings. Chicago-area developer James Follensbee estimates the hotel could run an event of up to 250 people. That could make it easier to house out-of-town business partners for area executives like Matt Edmonds, vice president of Tire Rack, a tire supply company which has its world headquarters a mile up the road from the hotel site. Currently, out-of-town guests visiting the tire company stay at the Marriott Hotel downtown or the Inn at Saint Mary's. When County Mayo opens, Edmonds said, Tire Rack might rent rooms for some visitors. "There are certain people that do visit us that (County Mayo) would be an appropriate type of facility to put them in," he said, adding that "it'd be nice to have them in our backyard." Tire Rack would also consider the venue for a conference, providing the audience was appropriate. "I don't know that I'd want to put a bunch of Englishmen in an Irish hotel," he said with a laugh. The hotel's lavish amenities might have a downside too, causing companies like Tire Rack to shy away from frequent stays because of the expected high cost of rooms. "It's got to be rather pricey per night," Edmonds said. Staff Writer Christina Hildreth: childreth @sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6271